Strange Fruit
is a varied collection of world jazz from a large group of
contributors, many who perform on several tracks. This album was
produced by Fabrizio Cassol, Jean Lamoot and Eric Legnini. It was
previously released on the Blue Note/EMI label in 2012.

Didadi Horns
is an African-rhythm piece featuring Malian musician Baba Sissoko
singing and accompanying himself on the tamani talking
drum, Zoumana Tereta performing on the sokou
one-string violin, and Fabriozio Cassol on alto sax leading an
eight-piece ensemble.

Soukara
is an exotic tune in 9/8 time that mostly oscillates between two
chords. It is sung by Malian alto Oumou Sangare, also known as “The
Songbird of Wassoulou”, a region south of the Niger River. She is
accompanied by finger-picking guitarist Manu Codija and the 40
member La Choraline choir from Brussels. Strange Fruit is
sung by soprano Claron McFadden, accompanied by Eric Legini on
piano. From a poem written in 1930 by Abel Meeropol and later put
to music, the term is a metaphor for lynching victims hanging from
trees. Billie Holiday first recorded the slow, brutal tune in 1939
and it became one of her biggest sellers. The lyrics are
unforgettable; Claron’s sad, mournful voice rises when it describes
the sight of gently swinging bodies, their mouths twisted and eyes
bulging, and the coarse smell of their burnt flesh. Claron also
sings another version of the tune, Strange Fruits, this
time accompanied by the La Choraline choir and a more rhythmic
orchestral background of tama drummers, piano and electric
bass.

If Jesus…
is performed to a slow funky-strut beat with Kris Dane singing and
playing guitar, assisted by Melissa Givens’ soaring vocals. Eric
Legnini provides accompaniment on the Hammond organ. Oumare Sangare
sings Les enfants de la rue, a slow, bluesy number with
backup vocalists Pamela Badiogo Mahapa and Djeneba Dansoko, the La
Choraline choir, and Sekouh Bah and Michel Hatzigeorgiou, both
playing electric bass. One of the most interesting tunes is the
lovely composition Choeurs Pygmees, inspired by a pygmy
melody, andsung a cappella by Congo-born Marie Daulne and
Kezia Daulne, who alternate and harmonize their voices to sound
like ringing bells. They are accompanied by the outstanding voices
of the La Choraline choir.

This music was recorded between 2006 and 2010 by recording
engineers Michel Andina, Jean Lamoot, Yaya Diarra and Eric Legnini
at Jet Studio, Studio Dada, Studio MA, ICP Studio, and Azena Studio
in Brussels, Studio Ferber in Paris, and Studio Yeelen in Bamako,
Mali. The sound quality is excellent. An 8-page booklet is included
with comments and credits in French and English.